Rock-drill.



0. E. CLARK.

ROCKDRILL. APPLICATION mso MAY I. 1915..

' Patented Apr. 4,1916.

.FPJJM OFFIOE.

OMAR E. CLARK, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR TO THE DENVER ROCK DRILL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, WARE.

0F DENVER, COLORADO, A CORPORATION OF DELA- ROCK-DRILL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

nplieation filed. May 1, 1915. Serial No. 25,103.

To all whom if m (13 concern Be it known that I. OMAR E. CLARK, a citizen of the.United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of (elm-ado, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rock-Drills, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates more particularly to means for supplying cleansing fluid to the bore of a drill bit, and consequently to the bottom of the hole being made.

The primary object is to provide novel means of a very simple, but effective character, whereby the cleansing fluid is taken from the main supply for operating the motor, and the amount so taken can be varied as desired without affecting the supply which is distributed for the purpose of operating the piston.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a rock drill, showing the improved controlling means therein. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the controlling device with a portion thereof in section. Fig. 3 is a view partially in section of the mounting and guide member for the controlling device, and Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the member shown in Fig. 3.

Similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the embodiment. illustrated. a cylinder member is employed- -eon prising a body 5, on the front. end of which ism'ounted a suitable chuck 6, in which may be placed a drill bit or steel. A portion of this bit or steel is shown at '1', and as usual, is provided with a longitudinal bore 8, through which the cleansing fluid is passed to the bottom of the drill hole. The rear end of the cylinder member includes a lubricator 9 and a rear head 10.

Operating within the cylinder member is a reciprocatory piston 11 having an internal constant pressure chamber 12. from which lead suitable ports 13 cooperating with grooves and chambers 1t and 15. by which fluid supplied to the chamber 12 is d1stributed for the purpose of reciprocating the piston. It is believed to be unnecessary to enter into a detailed description of this gitudinally through the operation, as the same is my co-pending application, Serial No. 875,465, filed Nov. 5, 1914.

In the present embodiment, the fluid under pressure is supplied to the constant pressure chamber 12 by a stationary tube 16 entering the rear portion of the same, said tube passing through the lubricator 9,.and having a rear outstanding flange portion 17 that is clamped between the lubricator 9 and the rear head 10. The rear face of the flanged portion 17 is recessed, as illustrated at 18, to form a channel which is in communication with the bore of a nipple l9 threaded into one side of the rear head 10, said nipple constituting means by which a hose line or other conduit leading from a suitable source of fluid under pressure can be attached to the machine. A throttle valve 20 is shown in the nipple 19 for controlling the supply. The rear head is furthermore provided with a socket 21, the walls of which are threaded, and screwed into this socket is a mounting or guide member 22 having a rearwardly extending wall 23.1ongitudinally slotted in one side, provided with a series of seats 25. A controlling rod 26 slidably mounted in this element and in the rear head 10, extends lontube 16, through the constant pressure chamber 12, and has a fully disclosed in tapered front end 27 that enters a longitupressure around the same from the chamber 12 into said bore 28. Leakage around the said rod 26 outwardly through the head 10 is prevented by a packing gasket 29 surrounding the rod and clamped between the inner end of the member 22 and the rear head 10. The tapered front end acts on the order of a needle valve, increasing or decreasing the space through which the fluid may enter the bore 28. accordingly as the rod 26 is adjusted back and forth.

The outer end of .the rod 26 carries a knurled head 30 having a hub portion 31" surrounding the rod and pierced by a holding pin 32, said holding pin projecting at one end beyond the hub, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. This projecting pin, as illustrated in Fig. l, is arranged to engage in any one of the seats 25, or the hub 31, which slidably engages within the member 22, can be withdrawn entirely from said member, its outward movement, however, being limited by a stop pin or projection 33 secured in the pin 26.

In operation, it will be evident that if the rod 26 is inits innermost position as shownin Fig. 1, its front end portion of largest diameter will remain within the port or bore 28, even when the piston is in its advanced position. There will, however, be leakage of fluid past the rod and into the bore 28, this fluid finding its way into the bore 8 of the drill bit, and thence to the bottom of the hole where it will blow out the cuttings. If a greater supply of cleansing fluid is desired, it is only necessary to partially turn the exposed handle knob 30 and withdraw the rod 26, whereupon its front end may be moved to a position so that when the piston is in its foremost position, a greater area of the bore 28 will be exposed and consequently a greater amount of the fluid will pass into said bore. Or if desired, the rod may be moved to an extreme position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, whereupon its front end will never enter the bore 28 and the full cross sectional area is thus unobstructed. It will be noted moreover that the fluid utilized is not that distributed for actuating the motor, and the supply while taken from the constant pressure chamber is controlled without in any manner affecting the fluid which is distributed.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation and many advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion and minor details of construction, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In apparatus of the character set forth,

I the combination with a cylinder member I; LI d a piston operating and a piston operating therein, of means for supplying fluid under pressure and distributing it to effect the operation of the piston, means for directing a portion of the fluid supply other than that distributed, through the piston to a drill bit operated on by the piston,and adjustable means extending into the piston for varying the amount of such fluid that passes therethrough.

2. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a cylinder member therein and having cylinder member for altering the cross sectional area of the bore.

3. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a cylinder member and a piston operatin therein .and having a bore therethrough or delivering cleansing fluid to a bit operated on by the piston, of means for supplying fluid under pressure and distributing it to efl'iect the operation of the piston, a portion of such fluid other than that distributed, passing through the I bore, and a rod valve detachably mounted on the cylinder member and entering the piston for altering the cross sectional area of the bore thereof.

4. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a cylinder member and a piston operating therein and having a bore therethrough for delivering clean ing fluid to a bit operated on by the piston, of means for supplying fluid under pressure and distributing it to effect the operation of the piston, a portion of such fluid other than that distributed, passing through the bore, and a reciprocatory rod slidably mounted in the cylinder member and entering the piston and bore, said rod having a tapering front end.

5. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a cylinder member and a piston operating therein and having a bore therethrough for delivering cleansing and distributing it to effect the operation of the piston, a portion of such fluid other than that distributed, passing through the bore, adjustable means mounted on the cylinder member for altering the cross sectional area of the bore, and mechanism for securing the said means in different adjusted positions.

6. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a cylinder member and a piston operating therein and having a bore therethrough for delivering cleansing fluid to a bit operated on by the piston, of means for supplying fluid under pressure and distributing it to effect the operation of the piston, a portion of such fluid other than that distributed, passing through the bore, a rod valve detachably mounted 'on the cylinder member and entering the piston for altering the cross sectional area of the bore thereof, and means for securing the rod valve in different adjusted positions.

7. In apparatus of the character set her and a piston operating therein and having a bore therethrough for delivering cleansing fluid to a drill bit operated on by the piston, of a guide member mounted on the rear end of the cylinder member, means for supplying fluid under pressure and distributing it to actuate the plston, a portion of such fluid other than that distributed, passing through the bore of the piston, and a rod rotatably and longitudinally movable in the guide member, said rod projecting into the piston to vary the effective cross sectional area thereof and having an outstanding projection and seats formed in the guide member for receiving said projection. 8. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a cylinder member, of a piston therein having an internal constant pressure chamber and a port leading therefrom and cooperating with a drill acted on by the piston, and a rod adjustably mounted in the cylinder member, extending through the chamber, and cooperating with the port to control the passage of fluid therethrough. 9. In apparatus 'of the character set forth, the combination with a cylinder member and a piston therein having a constant pressure chamber and a port leading therefrom to a drill acted on by the piston, of a tube entering the chamber for supplying fluid under pressure thereto, and an adjustable controlling device extending through the tube and pressure chamber and controlling the passage, of fluid through the ort. p 10. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a cylinder member and a piston therein having an internal constant pressure chamber and a port leading therefrom and communicating with a drill acted on by the piston, of means for distributing fluid from the constant pressure chamber to. actuate the piston,-a tube mounted on the cylinder member and extending into the constant pressure chamber for supplying fluid under pressure to the latter, and a rod slidably mounted on the cylinder member, said rod through the tube and constant pressure chamber and constituting means for alterextending ing the effective cross sectional area of the port, to vary the amount of fluid passing therethrough. v

11. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a cylinder member including a body and a rear head, of a piston operating in the cylinder member and having a constant pressure chamvber and a forwardly extending port for delivering fluid to a drill operated on by the piston, means for distributing fluid from the constant pressure chamber to actuate the iston, a tube mounted on the cylinder memer and projecting into the constant pressure chamber for supplying fluid under pressure thereto, means mounted on the rear head for connecting a motive fluid supply to the tube, and a rod slidably mounted on the rear head and extending through the tube and constant pressure chamber, said rod constituting controlling means for the piston port.

12. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a cylinder member including a body and a rear head, of a piston operating in the cylinder memher and having a constant pressure chamber and a forwardly extending port for delivering fluid to a drill operated on by the piston, means for distributing fluid from the constant pressure chamber to actuate the piston, a tube mounted on the cylinder member and projecting into theconstant pressure chamber for supplying fluid under pressure thereto, means mounted on the rear headfor connecting a motive fluid supply to the tube, a guide block element mounted axially on the rear head, and a rod slidably mounted in said element, said rod extending through the tube and constant pressure chamber and having a tapered front end that enters the port of the piston.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OMAR E. CLARK. 

